Prognostic Indicators for Survival and Athletic Outcome in Critically Ill Neonatal Foals
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana-Champaign, 1008 West Hazelwood Drive, IL 61801, USA.
Insights
Advances in equine neonatal intensive care have significantly improved foal survival rates, with most facilities now achieving over 80% success. Critically ill foals, particularly those with severe sepsis or extreme prematurity, still present challenges.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Neonatal Physiology
- Equine Health
Background:
- Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) have advanced the understanding of equine neonate physiology.
- Significant improvements in treating critically ill foals have been observed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the advancements in equine neonatal care.
- To report the increased survival rates in critically ill foals.
Main Methods:
- Review of clinical data and treatment protocols in equine NICUs.
- Analysis of survival rates from the early 1980s to the present.
Main Results:
- Overall survival rates for equine neonates have increased from approximately 50% to over 80%.
- Foals with less severe sepsis and adverse peripartum events (dystocia, placentitis) show improved survival and performance.
Conclusions:
- Equine neonatal intensive care has led to successful treatment outcomes for critically ill foals.
- While severe sepsis and prematurity remain challenging, overall prognosis for neonatal foals has dramatically improved.
Abstract:
Equine neonatal intensive care units have expanded knowledge and understanding of the normal and abnormal physiology of the equine neonate, resulting in successful treatment of critically ill equine neonates. The overall survival rate has increased tremendously since the early 1980s, from a little more than 50% to 80% or more for most facilities. The severely septic foal and the very premature foal still remain large treatment challenges, but less severely septic foals and foals challenged by adverse peripartum events such as dystocia and placentitis are surviving to hospital discharge and performing to the owners' expectation in larger numbers.
